february 2008 stone newsletter, stone church of willow glen

8/8/2019 February 2008 Stone Newsletter, Stone Church of Willow Glen

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The season of Lent is tradi-tionally a time for self-reflection,self-examination, and changingdirections. Looking back over thecourse of our lives, if we sense wehave been heading in the wrong

direction, Lent calls us to turnthings around. Even the word“repent” means “to turn,” and, of course, this implies turning fromsome thing or eroding habit in thepast to something better or evensomething spiritual.

Out of the Ashes suggests move-ment - from the imposition of ashes on one’s forehead start-ing with Ash Wednesday towardthe waters of baptism and the

empty tomb on Easter morningThroughout our days, facing bothmoments of trial and tenderness

we continue to move from darkness to light, from brokenness to

wholeness, from cruel judgmento forgiveness.

Often this is a slow processone that requires discipline andpatience, but with God in Chrison our side, our movement ialways forward.

The STone newSSTone ChurCh of willow Glen, PreSbyTerian uSa february 2008

THE STONE NEWS, PAGE

Pastor’s Column

Out of the Ashes

by The Reverend Doctor Ken Henry

The Beautiful Faces of the Deacons’ Winter Tea. top row: Sylvia Snyder, Betty Moran, Ken Brechler, Dorothy Stevens; middlerow: Ivan Kolte, Leta Boone, Nell Malander, Glenn Jones; bottom row: Connie Gum, Marilyn Gardner, Elsie Bisconer, ChrisOsborne. Glenn and Ivan celebrated their 92nd bir thdays within a few days of the tea. Nell celebrated her 98th in September



THE STONE NEWS, PAGE 3

Did you know the word Lent comesfrom the Anglo-Saxon word lencten meaning spring? Hard to believe this year since it comes so early. But it isno doubt why we also associate it withflowers, butterflies and bunnies.

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with EasterSunday. This is the time when Chris-tians reflect on Jesus the Messiah, whose presence transcends the grave.In Church School, our theme of par-

ables was selected because it lets usfocus on the teachings of Jesus. Eachparable has a special message that weneed to hear today. Jesus left a legacy that shows how the power of God’slove can conquer hate, sin and death.

And the church celebrates that onEaster.

We will send the children home withtwo tools to help promote conversationabout this season of the church year.One is a calendar with the 40 days of

Lent. It suggests daily activities thatpromote giving to others. TraditionalLenten practices have always includedgood deeds and almsgiving, besidesfasting and prayer.

The other tool is Gracie, a cardboardfish box. On the first Sunday of Lent,each child will receive their Gracie,

which is for their God money.* TheOne Great Hour of Sharing campaign,of which Gracie is a part, takes placeduring Lent with the collection of allthese fish in a net on Palm Sunday.

*A quote from 4-year-old Zoe Spring-er describing the coins she brings toChurch School.

Bees Galore, Heifer 2007Thanks to the efforts of many, thechildren have raised $1,064.02 forbees. Yes, this past year our campaign was to buy these little insects that areso important for the health of peopleand plants. This donation to HeiferInternational will buy 35 beehives.Donations from the children, choirand Read-to-Feed were supplementedby our church recycling. Fred Groppu-so faithfully provides us with quarters

for the Church School Tower from hrecycling efforts. He is our dump-sipartner and brings his bag of quarteto us regularly. The children realenjoy putting those quarters in th

tower. I wonder what the ChurcSchool will select for Heifer 2008?

Vacation Church School 2008Do you enjoy planning parties wit

other peoples’ money? Want flexibhours for the most part? Earn a stipen while serving God and the Churc We are offering a special opportunito a member of our congregation to djust that. VCS is important to StonChurch and past Volunteer Directohave put in many hours. This year we

like to give a stipend to that person thonor their work. The job requires onintensive week of fun with kids. Buthe preparation over several months very flexible and would fit into moschedules. The curriculum and datmust be selected in February. Pleacontact Bill Ribble or Rosaleen Ziscby February 17 for more informatioor to apply.

Questions? I’d love to talk - Rosaleen

Rosaleen’s Column

Lent and Kids

by Rosaleen Zisch, Interim

Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Taizé Services During Lent In contrast to the celebrations of Chris

mas, the liturgical season of Lent is a quitime, mirroring nature when plant life dormant, waiting for spring and blooming growth. So the Tuesday night worshiservices in the style of Taizé are perfect a vehicles for reflection and anticipation.

Taizé is a community in France foundeby Brother Roger Schutz just after Worl

War II to promote peacemaking and tprovide a place for worship and prayer. It still a magnet for people who come to joithe quest for peace.

The Stone Church Sanctuary has aextraordinary beauty at night with lighing primarily from an altar of candles. Thatmosphere is purposely hushed to creatan oasis in the midst of our frenetic lives

Musicians Karen Johnson, Barbara Roerts and Laraine Pitcher lead in the singinof chants. There is a time for spoken ansilent prayers - and for periods of silence

A regular monthly Taizé service is on February 5. Then, there are services on everTuesday of Lent: February 12, 19 and 26and March 4, 11 and 18. Music begins a6:30 pm; the service begins at 6:45 anends at 7:30. - Alice Thor

At the Beginning and Near the End of the Day A note on Ash Wednesday, February 6th

For this year’s Ash Wednesday service of self-reflection and imposi-tion of ashes on one’s forehead, youhave some options.

If you choose, you can come at6:30 am to Stone’s Sanctuary. On your way to work, on your way toschool, or even heading home after

a morning workout, you are wel-come to stop by for prayers, a brief meditation, ashes, and a morningcup of coffee. (I’ll make it.) There

will probably not be any music, and

it will last only about 20 minutes,but if you want to start your day and the season of Lent differently,please feel free to drop by.

Of course, if this is too early, we will also have a longer Ash Wednes-day service (accompanied by musicand some singing) at 6:30 pm thatsame day.

So, the choice is yours: 6:30 am or6:30 pm. Regardless of the time, webegin the season of Lent with ashesand prayers -Rev. Dr. Ken Henry

The Season of Lent at Stone Church

Ash Wednesday,February 6, 2008

through

Holy Saturday,March 22, 2008




The Church and World committeethanks you, the Stone Church con-gregation, for such a generous 2008pledge drive. Our committee askedfor and received 10% (a tithe) of thechurch operating budget. We are busy working on new and exciting mission

opportunities for the coming year.December Giving

We are happy to announce that theChristmas Joy Offering collection was$3,523. And December donationsfor Sacred Heart Community Serviceincluded 2 bags of towels, 17 bags of clothes, 1 box of toys, 2 boxes of shoesand 2 big cartons of stuffed animals.Communion Sunday Food Drive

Please continue to bring SacredHeart food donations to the Narthex on Communion Sunday. Also remember that FredGroppuso collects therecycled bottles and cansdeposited in the SocialHall (and he’ll recycle any-thing else of cash value). These fundsare added to the Church School HeiferInternational donation. Videotape Recycling

As a result of C&W’s videotaperecycling project, 230 videotapes werekept out of landfills last month, and

meaningful work was provided for Alternative Community Training.

Men’s Mission TeamThe Men’s Mission Team is plan-

ning a Parent/Child Day at Westmin-ster Woods and sponsorship of a co-edHabitat for Humanity workday. A Seed of Hope from Giving Hearts

Valentine’s Day is coming. Can it

mean more than hearts, chocolates,roses and romantic dinners? To thehomeless customers at Sacred Heart, aSurvival Sack is a very special Valentine any time of the year.

Every night, about 7,200 homelesspeople in Santa Clara County struggleto find refuge inovercrowded shel-ters, or resort toliving on the street,underneath bridgesor inside cars. Forthem, a Survival Sack isn’t “just a backpack filled with stuff” - it is an almost ines-timable source of hope and aid. Con-sider yourself, on the streets, withouta place to shower or a closet of cleanclothes: How would you survive?

For a most loving Valentine, helpC&W fill some Survival Sacks. A shop-ping list and collection box are in theDonation Corner in the Social Hall.Cash donations are also welcome.

For more information, please contactMaureen Ryan.

El Salvador Delegation Stoked!The five Stone Church delegates

the South Bay Sanctuary Covenagroup are packing supplies and mecations to protectagainst malaria, mos-quitoes and diarrhea.

They’re eagerly learn-ing about El Salvador- its people, civil war,politics, health care,community solidarity.They will experienceChristian faith in small communitand in the cooperative action thatbuilding this struggling country.

How can you support them? Prfor them as they leave Feb. 16. Aif you can, bring any of the followito the church by Feb. 3: used or nleather gloves, metal cutting shears, protection goggles, and angle grind($40-50, used to construct low-smocooking stoves). A few laptop compers for backwoods community grouare also requested. And Spanish bilingual toys, puzzles, school suppland books for preschool and elemetary-age children would be welcom

For more information, contact DBracey, Maureen Ryan, Rachel Buley, Chris Nilson or Suzanne Wolf

- Carrie Giorgianni, C&W Moderatwith Maureen Ryan and Dale Bra

Church & World Continues its Mission of Love and Hope

Dr. Barbara Rossing, The RaptureExposed: The Message of Hope in Revela-tion, Henrietta Perdue Memorial LectureSeries, February 22 - 23

In lectures adapted from her book,The Rapture Exposed, Dr. Barbara

Rossing, Professor of

New Testament at theLutheran School of Theology at Chicago,offers clear, engag-ing, and theologically insightful critiques of

the use of Scripture in the Left Behind series and the dispensationalist theol-ogy that lies behind the story line.

Here is a description of the threelectures to be presented by Dr. RossingFriday, Feb. 22, and Saturday, Feb. 23.

Friday evening: Exposing the Rap-ture: Prophecy, Not Prediction

The notion of the Rapture andthe two-stage return of Christ wereinvented by British preacher JohnNelson Darby less than 200 yearsago, yet it has become the dominant

cultural hermeneutic through whichmany Americans read the Bible. Dr.Rossing will discuss the origins andimplications of Rapture theology andprophecy.Saturday Lecture I: Have Funda-mentalists Hijacked the NonviolentLamb of Revelation?

Dr. Rossing will consider issues of violence and nonviolence as addressedin competing images of Jesus in popu-lar culture today, including the aveng-

ing warrior Jesus of the Left Behnovels, and the notion that the eamust be destroyed.Saturday Lecture II: Hope for theMiddle East, Hope for Our Futur

Nowhere in the world is healimore urgent today than in the Mid

East. Dr. Rossing will offer a mofor seeing Scripture come to life, nin global disasters or in Middle E wars, but in Lamb Power - the powof Jesus’ nonviolent, self-giving lofor the world - a world that will nbe left behind!

Suggested donation: $10 for the Frilecture, $15 for the Saturday two-lectseries, or $20 for both days. Dr. Rossinbook, The Rapture Exposed, will alsoavailable for $7. - Pat Mag

Dr. Barbara Rossing, Henrietta Perdue Lecturer, on The Rapture Exposed



The Men’s Book Group oStone Church will meet February 18, beginning at 7:30 pm. Bil

Ribble will bethe host.

The bookfor discussionis Five Mind

for the Future

by HowardG a r d n e rThe authodescribes whahe believes are

capacities we need to develop inourselves and others in order tomeet the world of the future.

All men of the congregation areinvited. - David McCreath

Washington’s Birthday, Lincoln’s Birth-day, Valentine’s Day - isn’t it wonderfulto have these celebrations to lighten up

the dreary days of mid- winter?!

Our ongoing projectof collecting coupons foreducation is doing well;however, we can do more

by also getting couponsfrom Kleenex and otherKimberly-Clark productsand soaps. Please look atthe list on the PW bul-

letin board or take a list from the library cart in the Social Hall.

If you have been looking for a vibrantBible study group, try Amethyst Circle.They meet at 1 pm on the first Monday of the month in the Church Library. This

would be good for those who cannot makea 9:30-am start (Emerald Circle) or who

don’t want to drive at night (SapphireCircle). Amethyst welcomes women whofind they can take a long lunch for spiritualnurture. It is convenient in that you don’thave to find unfamiliar addresses since itis always at Stone Church.

The PW Valentine Tea will be Saturday,February 9, at 2 pm in the Social Hall. PW events are always fun and a great way to getor stay connected with your Stone Church

friends. Please contact Claudia Hamm forchild care. (Yes, PW will provide it.)

PW Schedule for Feb./early March: Amethyst Circle, February 6, 1 pm,

Church Library Emerald Circle, February 7, 9:30 am,

Maureen Ryan’s homeSapphire Circle, February 11, 7:30 pm,

Ida Raby’s homeLunch Bunch, February 12, 11:30 am,

Taiwan Restaurant, Lincoln AvenueSale of Fair Trade Coffee (and other

products), February 17, after WorshipBook Group I, March 3, 1 pm, Liz

Shandera’s home, reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Book Group II, February 18, 2:30 pm,Claudia Hamm’s home, reading Folly by Laurie R. King

Focus Group, February 19, 9:30 am,Elizabeth Shandera’s home

Prayer Shawl Group, February 28, 4 pm,Fireside Room. Janice Goertz emphasizesthat this group, which does knitting andother handwork, is not gender-specific.Don’t know how to knit? Come and learnfrom great teachers.

Bible Study, February 28, 9:30 am,Church Library, led by the Rev. Marge.She has unique and challenging approach-es for us to ponder. - Catherine Amos


News

from PWNews

from

Men’sGroups

The Deacons’ Winter Tea waresounding success - we may evhave set an attendance record! Sixone seniors signed up; we set up chairs and were filled to capacity We were thrilled to have lo

distance members Bill and ConnGum make the drive from Fairfie

for the afternoon.Ivan Kolte celebrated his 92birthday five days before the teand Glenn Jones celebrated h92nd birthday five days after. Wcelebrated this amazing event wa fabulous burnt almond cake p vided by Ivan’s daughters.

We also enjoyed a variety of enttainment. Karen and Bob Johnsaccompanied Derk Johnson anBarbara Roberts. Bob brought alohis soprano and tenor saxophon

to add to the lovely music. DoD’Angelo played several melodpieces on his French horn.

To end the entertainment, the dtinguished Rev. Dr. Ken Henry left) juggled baseballs, pins, and bketballs. His finale included takibites out of an apple while he wjuggling it and two baseballs. Wknew we were getting such a tale when he joined our congregation - Della Smith, Moderator of Deaco

Winter Tea WasFull of Life!

Editor’s Note: Thanks to photo editor extraordinaire, Rod Thorn, for this fascinating Photoshop imagery!



At its regular January meeting, Ses-

sion acted to receive and welcome six new members: Aby Ryan, Guy andDarline Lohman, John Leih, BlakeTablak and Sarah Smith.

Gordon Meacham was nominatedas a candidate for Youth Advisory

Delegate to the General Assembly meeting in San Jose in June. Votingby the Presbytery of San Jose on Com-missioners and a YAD will take placeat its next meeting at Immanuel Pres-byterian Church, San Jose, on Feb-ruary 2. (Marge Palmer is a ministercandidate, and Ruth McCreath anelder candidate for commissioner.)

Ken Henry will do a public speakingtraining seminar for the Presbytery of San Jose, on February 16, from 9 to11 am, at Stone Church. It is aptly titled, “We Can’t Hear You!”

Session gave extensive consider-ation to a first reading of a new way of communicating with people who want to have a wedding or a memo-

rial service at Stone, or simply usethe building for an event. Three sepa-rate pamphlets have been developed,each specific to the intended use, list-ing fees and available resources forthe users. Session members raisedconcerns and gave comments, andplanned to give final considerationat their next meeting.

Session approved a covenantbetween the Covenant Presbyte-rian Insurance Program and StoneChurch in which the church agreeson its part to be diligent about careof the building.

Session adopted a balanced budgetfor 2008, based on income andexpenses of $480,773. The budget

will be presented and explained at thecongregational meeting on February3. (The congregation does not vote onthe budget.) A difference this year isthat the congregation will not need to vote on Ken Henry’s compensationsince his terms of call are in forcethrough 2008.

- Alice Thorn, Clerk of Session

Session Beat


The Zephyr Experience is an annual

week-long intergenerational confer-ence for fam-ilies, singlesand couples,held in thebeautiful 59-room TallacCenter at theZephyr Point Conference Center, LakeTahoe, from July 6 - 11.

Surrounded by the unparalleledsplendor of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra,

this stimulating and enriching eventfeatures fascinating and varied classesin the morning, open afternoons toexplore or relax, and a short worshipservice each evening. Attendance is limited. Enroll now

for this exciting week at Lake Tahoe.Stone Church traditionally has one of the largest groups at the conference.

Registration forms and completeinformation are available in the churchoffice and on the Zephyr Point website(www.zephyrpoint.org/Zephyr.html).

Here are brief descriptions of theclasses, which occur in two morningperiods (8:45 and 10:30 am).

Bible:Paul’s Scripture: The Old TestamentBackground of Romans (Chandler Stokes, 1st Period)From the Trust of Abraham into theTrust of Christ (Herman Waetjen, 2nd Period)

Global Stewardship:

Christian Citizenship for PlanetEarth (Carol Robb, 1st Period)

Church and Society:Peace in the Middle East (Monica Styron, 1st Period)Onward from San Jose: Reflecting othe 218th General Assembly (Tricia Dykers Koegigs,2nd Period)

Spirituality:Seasons, SoulCollage, and the Four-Fold Path (Marjorie Hoyer Smith

2nd Period)Children’s Programs:Celebrating Courage, ages 4 - 9(Judy Lissner Harrison,St. Helena Church)

Tahoe Peace Talks, ages 10 - 13(Tom Nolen, First Church,Portland, Oregon)Created to be Creative, ages 14-17(Judy Slater, Christ Church,Terra Linda)

Ages 15-17 can choose either youth or adult classes.

The following table shows the costall rooms are shared, and fees arhigher if received after June 1.

Costs TallacCenter

Cabins32 & 33

Adult $445 each $275 each

Youth (10-17) $185 each $120 each

Child (3-9) $135 each $120 each

- Pat Mage

Sign up Now for the Zephyr Experience 2008Stone Church was featured promi-

nently in the latest issue (Jan/Feb2008) of Presbyterians Today. This isa publication of the PCUSA, andcoincidentally, the Session had justauthorized purchasing subscriptionsfor every Stone Church household.

Our webmaster, Rod Thorn, hasput the article on our website (www.stonechurch.org/PTArticle.php),or you can just look at your copy of Presbyterians Today, or one in theChurch Library.

Be sure to thank Pat Magee for sub-mitting the article -- it was the very first in this new Profile of a Congregation series!

Stone Featured in Article

http://www.zephyrpoint.org/Zephyr.html

http://www.stonechurch.org/PTArticle.php




http://www.zephyrpoint.org/Zephyr.html



THE STONE NEWS, PAGE

On Sunday, January 20, StoneChurch was full of the joy of wel-coming 15 new members. Here aretheir pictures so you can introduce

yourself the next time you see them.Invite them to join your committeeor group – or just to have a cup of coffee!

Clockwise, from top left: Aby Ryanand her daughter, Michelle Chandler,Nora Kelly, Carole Brandt, Blake

Tablak and Sarah Smith, John Leih(with Ken Henry at his left), Darlineand Guy Lohman and their daughter,Kay Moore, Don Skipwith, Marsha

Wadley, Brian and Julie Sailor andtheir daughters.

Charlotte Pizzo was unable tobe there, but has also joined. Sheis in the choir (as is John Leih), sothe choir all knows and loves themalready!

So you can get to know Charlotteand all of the others, The Stone News

will be featuring biographies of eachof these new members in upcomingeditions, and Fred Oliver will featurethem in the Weekly Updates, as well.

We are thrilled to welcomethese new members to the

Stone Church Family!



The Stone Church of Willow GlenPresbyterian USA1937 Lincoln Avenue(corner of Clark & Lincoln)San Jose, CA 95125-3499

Website:www.stonechurch.org

Church Ofce: Phone: 408-269-1593Fax: 408-269-8412

The Reverend Doctor Ken Henry, Pastor Claudia Hoagland, Ofce Manager

The Stone News Staff:Emily Moak Meacham, Editor Pat Magee, Fred Oliver, Lizanne Oliver,Rhonda Lakatos, Jody Meacham;

Assistant EditorsSylvia Snyder, Chief Photographer Dan Raby, Rod Thorn: Additional PhotoCatherine Amos, Fred Gardner,Dulcie Janzen, Jan Keifer, Jerry Keifer,Sylvia Snyder; Production

We Can’t Hear You!A Public Speaking Seminar

Saturday, February 16, 9 - 11 am

Stone Church Social Hall

Our own Ken Henry will lead aPresbytery-sponsored public-speaking event for Presbyterians who arfrequently asked to read scripturemake announcements, offer prayersdo children’s sermons and speakinto microphones during Sundaymorning worship. This two-hour session will focu

on our ability to speak clearly andeffectively in front of groups. If we

fear public speaking or feel we needsome speaking and/or reading tipfor public assemblies, this semina will provide attendees with practicaadvice and individual coaching.

Before being called as pastor at StonChurch of Willow Glen, Ken Henry spent thlast three years coaching and teaching speecand competitive debate to college studentat Northwest Christian College in EugeneOregon. He has also been a Presbyteriapastor for almost 20 years


Stone Church Yoga ClassSaturdays, January 26 - March 1

9:30 - 11 am

Jill Pearson-Keltner, Instructor$68 for series of 6; $15 drop-inBeginners welcome!

Yoga develops strength and flex-ibility. It helps create the balance,both physical and mental, that weneed in our daily lives.

During this six-week series of classes, we will learn basic pos-tures and how to use these pos-tures to benefit body, mind andbreath.

Wear comfortable clothes andbring a hard blanket/towel and a yoga mat if you have one.

For information and to sign up,please contact Mary Johnson orBill Ribble. Or, you can just show up!

Jill Pearson-Keltner is a certified Iyengar yoga teacher who has been teaching Iyengar yoga since 1995. She brings a great love of teaching from her many years in the fieldof education.

More Upcoming Events:

Men’s Mission Team Crab

Feed, February 2, 6 pmTaizé Services, February 5, 12,19 and 26, 6:45 pm

Ash Wednesday Services,Feb 6, 6:30 am & 6:30 pm

PW Valentine Tea, Feb 9, 2 pm

Advance Health Care DirectiveSeminar, with Lynn Stutz,Feb 10 & 24, 11 am

Men’s Book Group, Feb 18,7:30 pm, Ribble home

Henrietta Perdue MemorialLectures with Dr. BarbaraRossing, Feb 22-23

Women’s Retreat, St. FrancisRetreat Center, March 7-9

General Assembly, June 21-28

More beautiful faces from the Deacons’ Winter Tea. top row: Miriam Rowan, SaraHoltzapple, Liz Shandera, bottom row: Ed Clemenco, Bea and Fred Groppuso

http://www.stonechurch.org/



february 2008 stone newsletter, stone church of willow glen

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